Roller adjustment in envelope folding machines

ABSTRACT

A machine for folding cuts or sheets of paper or the like particularly cuts for envelopes or the like, has an adjustable roller device carrying, for example, a knife for preliminary cutting or a series of suction openings. The roller device can be adjusted in relation to its driving gear wheel to a predetermined angle by a remotely controlled adjusting device. The angularly adjustable part of the roller device is operatively connected with the driving gear wheel in the operative position of the roller device. When this connection is interrupted and the gear wheel stands still the adjusting device adjusts the roller relatively to the gear wheel to the extent of a predetermined angle which is set by an actuating potentiometer. The invention is particularly characterized by the provision of an actual value potentiometer and slip rings fixed to one of the parts which are rotatable relatively to each other, the potentiometer having a ring-shaped resistance. This provides an electrical connection of this potentiometer with the electrical circuit for adjusting the roller device. The slider of this potentiometer is coupled with the other one of the parts rotatable relatively to each other in such manner that when the part of the roller device which is to be adjusted relatively to its gear wheel, is rotated by a predetermined angle, there is a rotation by the same angle between the slides of this potentiometer and its ring-shaped resistance. When the angular adjustment of the roller set by the actuating potentiometer has been completed, the actual value potentiometer will stop automatically the remotely controlled adjusting device by means of a value comparing device known per se.

United StatS Pltfillt [1 1 Ehlscheid Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden AttorneyRichards & Geier [5 7 ABSTRACT A machine for folding cuts or sheets of paper or the like particularly cuts for envelopes or the like, has an adjustable roller device carrying, for example, a knife for preliminary cutting or a series of suction openings. The roller device can be adjusted in relation to its driving gear wheel to a predetermined angle by a remotely controlled adjusting device. The angularly adjustable part of the roller device is operatively connected with the driving gear wheel in the operative position of the roller device. When this connection is interrupted and the gear wheel stands still the adjusting device adjusts the roller relatively to the gear wheel to the extent of a predetermined angle which is set by an actuating potentiometer. The invention is particularly characterized by the provision of an actual value potentiometer and slip rings fixed to one of the parts which are rotatable relatively to each other, the potentiometer having a ring-shaped resistance. This provides an electrical connection of this potentiometer with the electrical circuit for adjusting the roller device. The slider of this potentiometer iscoupled with the other one of the parts rotatable relative- V ly to each other in such manner that when the part of the roller device which is to be adjusted relatively to its gear wheel, is rotated by a predetermined angle, there is a rotation by the same angle between the slides of this potentiometer and its ring-shaped resistance. When the angular adjustment of the roller set by the actuating potentiometer has been completed, the actual value potentiometer will stop automatically the remotely controlled adjusting device by means of a value comparing device known per se.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEU 1 OF 4 PATENTEUJAN 1 6 I975 PATENTEDJAH 16 I975 SHEET 3 BF 4 at m M. NH

i; 82 w w ROLLER ADJUSTMENT IN ENVELOPE FOLDING MACHINES This invention'relates to a device constituting a part of a machine for folding cuts or sheets of paper or the like, particularly cuts to be used for envelopes or the like. The device is used to turn to a predetermined angle a roller carrying for example, a knife for preliminary cutting or a series of suction openings, by remotely controlled adjusting means relatively to its driving gear wheel or chain wheel (both terms are designated hereinafter as gear wheel). The invention refers more particularly to a device of this type which makes certain that the adjustment of the roller by remotely controlled adjusting means will actually correspond to the predetermined angular value.

Angular adjustments of certain rollers are necessary when a folding machine must fold cuts wherein the distance of the folding lines from the front edge of the cut or between two folding lines of a cut, is different from corresponding distances in cuts previously folded by the machine.

In prior art, rollers of the described type were angularly adjusted when the machine stands still and consequently the gear wheel driving the roller does not turn, by opening the operative connection between the gear wheel and the part of the roller to be angularly adjusted and then setting this roller part by hand to the desired angle which can be read upon a scale. Then the operative connection between the adjusted roller part and its gear wheel is reestablished.

When a roller of this type is to be set to a predetermined angle relatively to its driving gear wheel by remote control adjusting means, it is also necessary initially to interrupt the operative connection of the roller part which is to be angularly adjusted with its gear wheel and when to use the remotely controlled adjusting means to set this roller part to the predetermined angle relatively to the immovable gear wheel and then to couple again the set roller with its gear wheel while the roller and the gear wheel are immovable. Devices for the remote angular adjustments of the roller have been described already in 0.8. Pat. Nos. 3,379,103 and 3,409,238.

An object of the present invention is to improve prior art devices of this type.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

One object of the present invention is to connect a circular actual value potentiometer to a roller which is to be turned relatively to an immovable gear wheel to the extent of a predetermined angle set by an actuating potentiometer with the use of remotely controlled adjusting means, the connection being carried out in such manner that the actual value potentiometer stops automatically the remotely controlled adjusting means as soon as the roller has reached the angular position relatively to the gear wheel set by the actuating potentiometer.

In accordance with the present invention the actual value potentiometer rotating with the roller while the machine is operating and means electrically connecting it with the electric circuit supplying electrical energy are fixed to a part of the roller for adjusting purposes. The slider of the actual value potentiometer is connected to another part of the roller. Thus when the machine is standing still the remotely controlled adjusting means produce relative angular movement of one part of the roller with respect to its other part and also produce a rotation of the slider by the same angle relatively to the ring-shaped resistance of the actual value potentiometer. This potentiometer will stop automatically by means of a known value comparing device the remotely controlled adjusting means after the roller has assumed the angle set by the actuating potentiometer.

Remotely controlled adjusting means are known per se and do not constitute the subject of the present invention. These means engage an adjusting gear wheel or the like fixed to the part of the roller which is to be set at a predetermined angle and turn it relatively to the driving gear wheel of the roller which then stands still, the operative coupling between the driving gear wheel and the part of the roller to be adjusted being then disconnected. The remotely controlled adjusting means consist of a hydromotor or electromotor. In the simplest construction the operative coupling can consist of a frictional connection which can be connected and disconnected by hand by screws. For example, it can be a socket coupling or a remotely controlled mechanical,

electronagnetic or hydraulic frictional coupling. Such a FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section along the line ll-ll of FIG. 1.

FlG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows certain parts in a different position.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through yet another.

embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a precutting roller device 1 of a machine for folding envelopes. It includes a shaft 2 carrying ring segments 3 and a shell 4 attached to the shaft by screws 5. A cylindrical socket 6 is mounted by bearings 7 upon the shaft 2 and has slots 6' for the ring segments 3, so that the socket 6 can be rotated upon the shaft 2 to the extent of a certain angle. The socket 6 is secured against axial movements; it carries a shell 9 which is fixed thereon by screws 10. Both shells 4 and 9 have conical end surfaces and have the same length. Adjacent end surfaces of the two shells engage a collar 1 l which is a part of the jacket 6. The opposite end surfaces of the two shells engage a ring 12 mounted upon the jacket 6 but secured against rotation thereon. When the roller device is operating a ring nut 13 presses the ring 12 firmly against the shell 4 fixed upon the shaft 2 and against the shell 9 fixed upon the jacket 6, so that the jacket 6 will be firmly engaged with the shaft 2. As shown in FlGS. 2 and 3, a precutting knife 14 is fixed in the shell 4, while a precutting knife 15 is fixed in the shell 9.

A hollow lug 16 is fixed by screws 17 to a front surface of the jacket 6. The shaft 2 has an extension pin 18 extending through the lug l6 and a pin 19 on its opposite side. Ball bearings 20 are carried by the pins 18 and 19 and are used to support the entire roller device 1 in side walls 21 of the machine. The pin 19 also carries a driving gear wheel 23 which is secured against turning by an adjusting spring 22. The gear wheel 23 meshes with a driving gear wheel of the machine (not shown), so that the gear wheel 23 does not rotate when the machine stands still.

An adjusting gear wheel 25 is mounted upon the lug 16 and is secured against rotation by an adjusting spring 24. Furthermore, the lug 16 carries an insulating member 26 with three slip rings 27 and 27', and a pot like holder 28 for the annular actual value potentiometer 29 which is attached to the holder 28 by a nut 30. A pin 31 which carries the slider of the potentiometer 29 is connected by a coupling 32 with a driver 33 fixed upon the pin 18 of the shaft 2. Therefore, when there is a relative angular movement of the pin 18 relatively to the lug 16, the slider of the potentiometer 29 will be rotated relatively to its annular resistance by the same angle. Two slip rings 27 are conductively connected with two ends of the annular resistance of the poten; tiometer 29, while the third slip ring 27 is connected with the slider of the potentiometer 29. All three slip rings are conductively connected by brushes 34 and 34' with an electrical circuit operative to adjust the roller device.

In operation, the ring nut 13 is unscrewed and then the jacket 6 with the shell 9 carrying the knife are turned relatively to the shaft 2 and the shell 4 which is fixed thereon and which carries the knife 14, the tuming taking place from the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the two knives l4 and 15 have the smallest distance from each other, to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the two knives are widest apart. The remote actuation of this angular turning takes place when the machine stands still and the shaft 2 does not rotate and after the loosening of the ring nut 13, by means of a gear wheel of the remotely actuating adjustung means (not shown) which is brought into engagement with the gear wheel 25 and which turns the gear wheel 25 in the one or the other direction until the slider of the potentiometer 29 has no more difference in voltage with respect to the slider of the actuating potentiometer upon which the desired setting of the roller had been indicated. Then the remotely controlled actuating means are stopped in a manner known per se by the use of a value comparing device.

FIG. 4 shows as another embodiment of the present invention a suction roller device 37 of an envelope folding machine which includes a shaft 38, a roller 39 fixed thereon, an adjusting gear wheel 40 also fixed upon the shaft and two ball bearings 41 by means of which the roller device is mounted upon the side walls 42 of the machine. The roller 39 has a longitudinal bore 43 communicating with a row of outwardly extending suction holes 44. When the roller is rotated the bore 43 is connected by a steering head 45 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 38, with an annular air channel 46 communicating with pipe section 47. Thus the bore 43 is connected for a while with a suction air conduit and then separated from it. The steering head 45 has an arm 48 carrying a pin 49 fixed to a side wall 42 of the machine, so that the head 45 is secured from rotation along with the roller.

The shaft 38 also has a pin 50 carrying the driving gear wheel 51 which in operative condition is secured against rotation by a clamping piece 52 and nuts 53. A lug 54 firmly engages the gear wheel 51 and carries an insulating member 56 which is fixed thereon. The insulating member 56 carries three slip rings 57, 57'. The lug 54 also carries a holder 58 which is firmly fixed thereon and which carries the annular actual value potentiometer 59. The potentiometer 59 is fixed excentrically to the holder 58 by a nut 60. A pin 61 which carries and moves the slider of the potentiometer 59, also carries a gear wheel 62 which is firmly fixed thereon. The gear wheel 62 meshes with a gear wheel 63 having the same number of teeth. The gear wheel 63 is mounted upon the pin 50 of the shaft 38 and is secured against rotation. A cover 64 is used to protect the gear wheels 62 and 63 and is fixed by a nut 65 to the pin 50. Two slip rings 57 are connected with the ends of the annular resistance of the potentiometer 59, while the third slip ring 57' is connected with the slider of this potentiometer. All three slip rings are conductively connected by brushes 6 and 66' with the electrical steering circuit for the setting of the roller 37.

In operation in order to set the suction roller device at another angle relatively to its driving gear wheel 51 while the machine is standing still, the connection between the gear wheel 51 and the shaft pin 50 is interrupted by unscrewing the nuts 53. It should be noted that the gear wheel 51 does not rotate due to its engagement with a driving gear wheel of the machine. Then the shaft 38 along with the roller 39 and the gear wheel 63 moving the slider of the potentiometer are rotated in one or the other direction by a gear wheel (not shown) meshing with the gear wheel 40 and constituting a part of the remotely actuated adjusting means, until there is no more difference in voltage between the slider of the potentiometer 59 and the slider of the actuating potentiometer upon which the desired setting of the roller has been preset. Then in a manner known per se the remotely controlled adjusting means are stopped by the use of a value comparing device.

In order to be able to examine whether there has been a correct setting of the actual value potentiometer with respect to a roller which has to be set by remotely controlled actuating means at a predetermined angle relatively to its driving gear wheel, or if necessary, to be able to set the roller by hand upon a predetermined angle, it is advisable to provide a scale 85 upon one of the parts of the roller member and a marking 86 upon .the other part rotatable relatively to the first-mentioned part, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically a first roller member 71 with an actual value potentiome ter rotating therewith and used for actuating by gear wheels 72 and 73, as well as a second roller member 74 which is driven by the roller 71 and which cooperates therewith. There can be provided several rollers 74 which cooperate with the roller 71 and the driving gear wheels 73 of which mesh directly or through intermediate gear wheels with the gear wheel 72 of the first roller 71. By way of example, the front roller 71 can be provided upon its entire circumference with suction holes used to make windows in cuts for envelopes. The second roller 74 can have, for example, one-half of the diameter and double the speed of the first roller 71. Thus the two rollers will have the same circumferential speed which will be equal to the speed of envelopes to be provided with windows. The second roller 74 carries, for example, a row of suction holes 76 for sucking a cut of a transparent window material which is then transmitted to the first roller 71 which will move it over the window opening of the envelope being made.

'When the location of the window opening in envelope cuts is a different one the second roller 74 must be correspondingly turned relatively to the first roller 71 or its driving gear wheel 77.

The first suction roller 71 and its driving gear wheel 77 are firmly mounted upon a shaft 78 which is rotatably mounted in the side walls 79 of the machine. The second suction roller 74 and its driving gear wheel 73 are fixed upon a shaft 80 which is also rotatably mounted in the side walls 79. The gear wheel 72 in operation is connected by a clamping piece 81 and nuts 82 with the extension 83 of the shaft 78. The gear wheel 72 carries a lug 84 fixed thereon. The lug 84 carries the same parts which are shown in FIG. 1 and which are provided with the same numerals, namely, an insulating member 26 with three slip rings 27, 27' and a pot-like holder 28 for the annular actual value potentiometer 29 which is connected by a nut 30 to the holder 28. The pin 31 carrying and moving the slider of the potentiometer 29, is connected by a fixed coupling 32 with a driver 33 fixed upon the extension 83 of the shaft 78, so that when the lug 84 is moved angularly relatively to the shaft portion 83, the slider of the potentiometer 29 will be rotated to the same angular extent relatively to the annular resistance of the potentiometer. The two slip rings 27 are conductively connected with two ends of the annular resistance of the potentiometer 29, while the third slip ring 27' is connected with the slider of the potentiometer. All three slip rings are conductively connected by brushes 34, 34' with the electrical actuating circuit used for setting the roller device.

The advantage of the construction described in FIG. 5 is that a single remotely actuating adjusting device is used for several rollers 74 cooperating with the roller 71 and having driving gear wheels 73 which are connected with the setting gear wheel 72 either directly or through intermediate gear wheels. The machine then stands still and there is no connection between the setting gear wheel 72 and the shaft pin 73. The gear wheel (not shown) of the remotely controlled adjusting device engages the gear wheel 72; thus the rollers can be turned at the same time about an angle set at the actuating potentiometer and only one actual value potentiometer is required for this purpose which in operative condition rotates along with the roller 71.

If the ratio between the gear wheels 72 and 73 is not lzl but is, for example, 1:2, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the actuating potentiometer and the actual value potentiometer must be constructed in the same ratio in order that the roller 74 should make the same angular rotation which is set at the actuating potentiometer.

The present invention relates to an actual value potentiometer rotatable along with a roller and having slip rings for the conductive connection of the potentiometer with an actuating electrical circuit for remotely setting the standing still roller relatively to its driving gear wheel at a predetermined angle set upon an actuating potentiometer. However, the present invention is not limited to the simple combination described in the illustrated embodiments of a manually releasable coupling between the driving gear wheel and the roller portion set by the remotely controlled setting means. This operative coupling may also consist of a remotely controlled mechanical electromagnetic or hydraulic frictional coupling. The present invention also includes a combination with a remotely controlled frictional coupling.

1 claim:

1. in an envelope folding machine having a remotely controlled adjusting device with an electrical circuit and an actuating potentiometer adapted to be set at a selected angle; a roller device comprising at least two members which are rotatable relatively to each other, an actual value potentiometer connected with one of said members and having an annular resistance, slip rings and a slider, said slip rings connecting the lastrnentioned potentiometer with said electrical circuit, said slider being connected with the other one of said members, and a driving gear wheel connected with said other member, the turning of said one member relatively to said other member by a certain angle causing a turning by the same angle of said slider relatively to said annular resistance, the last-mentioned potentiometer automatically stopping said adjusting device upon reaching said selected angle.

2. A roller device in accordance with claim 1, having a value comparing device for stopping said adjusting device.

3. A roller device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actual value potentiometer is connected to the rotary member which is rotatable relatively to the gear wheel carrying member, the roller device further comprising a coupling connecting the slider of the actual value potentiometer with the gear wheel carrying member.

4. A roller device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actual value potentiometer is connected to the gear wheel carrying member, the roller device further comprising a coupling connecting the slider of the actual value potentiometer with the rotary member which is rotatable relatively to the gear carrying member.

5. A roller device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said coupling comprises interengaging gear wheels.

6. In an envelope folding machine having a remotely controlled adjusting device with an actuating potentiometer adapted to be set at a selected angle; at least two rollers having paper treating means; a gear wheel connected'with one of said rollers, a gear wheel connected with the other one of said rollers and driven by the first-mentioned gear wheel, a driving gear wheel firmly connected with said one roller, means connected with the first-mentioned gear wheel and said adjusting device for setting the second-mentioned roller at said selected angle relatively to the first-mentioned roller, an actual value potentiometer connected with said means and having a slider, and means connecting said slider with the first-mentioned roller.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first-mentioned gear wheel and the second-mentioned gear wheel have a gear ratio deviating from lzl and wherein the angular setting of said actuating potentiometer has the same setting ratio as that of said actual value potentiometer.

t m s m 5 

1. In an envelope folding machine having a remotely controlled adjusting device with an electrical circuit and an actuating potentiometer adapted to be set at a selected angle; a roller device comprising at least two members which are rotatable relatively to each other, an actual value potentiometer connected with one oF said members and having an annular resistance, slip rings and a slider, said slip rings connecting the last-mentioned potentiometer with said electrical circuit, said slider being connected with the other one of said members, and a driving gear wheel connected with said other member, the turning of said one member relatively to said other member by a certain angle causing a turning by the same angle of said slider relatively to said annular resistance, the last-mentioned potentiometer automatically stopping said adjusting device upon reaching said selected angle.
 2. A roller device in accordance with claim 1, having a value comparing device for stopping said adjusting device.
 3. A roller device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actual value potentiometer is connected to the rotary member which is rotatable relatively to the gear wheel carrying member, the roller device further comprising a coupling connecting the slider of the actual value potentiometer with the gear wheel carrying member.
 4. A roller device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actual value potentiometer is connected to the gear wheel carrying member, the roller device further comprising a coupling connecting the slider of the actual value potentiometer with the rotary member which is rotatable relatively to the gear carrying member.
 5. A roller device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said coupling comprises interengaging gear wheels.
 6. In an envelope folding machine having a remotely controlled adjusting device with an actuating potentiometer adapted to be set at a selected angle; at least two rollers having paper treating means; a gear wheel connected with one of said rollers, a gear wheel connected with the other one of said rollers and driven by the first-mentioned gear wheel, a driving gear wheel firmly connected with said one roller, means connected with the first-mentioned gear wheel and said adjusting device for setting the second-mentioned roller at said selected angle relatively to the first-mentioned roller, an actual value potentiometer connected with said means and having a slider, and means connecting said slider with the first-mentioned roller.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first-mentioned gear wheel and the second-mentioned gear wheel have a gear ratio deviating from 1:1 and wherein the angular setting of said actuating potentiometer has the same setting ratio as that of said actual value potentiometer. 